If you’re a fan of reading, you’re probably a fan of the Kindle, Amazon’s awesome wireless reading device. And if you’ve never heard of Kindle, you should check it out, because the Kindle is taking the reading world by storm. The Kindle is compact, lightweight, easy to operate, and usable in direct sunlight. The best part is that its memory can hold thousands of books at once, out of hundreds of thousands that are available for download!
Like any good electronic device that you’ve invested money in, you’ll want to protect your Kindle with a cover. Ideally, it will be a useful and protective cover that’s also inexpensive. And it would be nice if it could prop the Kindle up for table-top reading or let the Kindle lay flat for hand-held reading. Oh, and it’s got to look crazy cute, too!
Tall order, right? There are some covers available out there, but none that quite suit me. Besides, why buy when you can make your own?
So that’s just what I did. And I’m gonna show you how to make one, too! It’s easier than you think. Before we get into the instructions, though, here’s a video showing you just how the case works.
But first, a word about Kindle models, sizes, and other devices…
Amazon has been through several versions of the Kindle, including the original Kindle 1 (no longer available), the Kindle 2, and the Kindle 3G. The latest version is the Kindle Fire with full-color display. Each device is a different size, so be sure to choose the right set of measurements in my tutorial below so that your case fits your device!
Once you know what device you have, you need to pick between two methods for holding the device in your case. Some of them have keyboards that lend themselves well to the “pocket” approach, but others (like the Fire) have larger screens that make the “corner elastic” approach more usable. I’ll address both methods in the tutorial below, so as you go through the steps, follow the “POCKET” or “ELASTIC” steps as appropriate.
HAVE ANOTHER DEVICE? – For those of you with other devices that I haven’t provided measurements for, such as the Kindle DX or the Barnes and Noble NOOK, we’ve put together a custom Kindle case formula that you can use to calculate the measurements for a case for your device.
WANT AN IPAD COVER? – Don’t bother with trying to convert this tutorial to fit your iPad — check out our new iPad cover tutorial for exact directions.
Now you just HAVE to have one, right? Okay, let’s get to it!
You’ll need about a half a yard of fabric. You can have some fun here and use just about any fabric you like, as long as it’s not super thin or super thick, either of which will give you trouble. Regular cotton quilting fabric (that you see rows and rows of on the back wall in any fabric store) works great and comes in hundreds of fun patterns.
| for POCKET holder: | for ELASTIC holder: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Cut three pieces of your fabric using the appropriate measurements for your Kindle model.
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Cut three pieces of your fabric using the appropriate measurements for your Kindle model.
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You’ll also need some 1/2″ wide elastic. The only colors I can usually find in stores are black and white, but if you search online, you may be able to find colored or patterned elastic.
Several readers have given us some great ideas for alternatives to white elastic. One suggestion is to sew a narrow tube of fabric and slide the elastic inside, creating a fabric-covered elastic that matches your case. The other suggestion is to use an elastic headband, which can be found in many colors in the hair accessory section of most stores, or sometimes at the dollar store.
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| Cut one piece of elastic at least as long as your fabric is wide (about 7″ is good). | Cut one piece of elastic at least as long as your fabric is wide (about 7″ is good).
Cut 4 pieces of elastic that are each 3″ long. |
Next you’ll need some really stiff cardboard, or ideally, some thick chipboard. You want something sturdy and strong, that won’t fold easily (which means regular cardboard boxes are a big no-no). You can find good cardboard on the back of a notebook or in the cover of a composition book,
Just slice the cover of the binder open with a craft knife
Cut five pieces of chipboard, using the appropriate measurements for your Kindle model. As you cut each one, mark its “piece number” on it with a pencil, so you don’t mix them up. It won’t show later, and it will make assembly much easier.
| Kindle 1 | Kindle 2 | Kindle 3G | Kindle Fire | |
| Piece #1 | 7 1/2″ x 5 3/4″ | 8″ x 5 3/4″ | 7 5/8″ x 5 1/2″ | 7.5″ x 5 1/4″ |
| Piece #2 | 3/4″ x 5 3/4″ | 3/8″ x 5 3/4″ | 3/8″ x 5 1/2″ | 5/8″ x 5 1/4″ |
| Piece #3 | 7 3/4″ x 5 3/4″ | 8 1/4″ x 5 3/4″ | 7 3/4″ x 5 1/2″ | 7 3/4″ x 5 1/4″ |
| Piece #4 | 3/4″ x 5 3/4″ | 3/8″ x 5 3/4″ | 3/8″ x 5 1/2″ | 5/8″ x 5 1/4″ |
| Piece #5 | 3 3/4″ x 5 3/4″ | 4″ x 5 3/4″ | 4″ x 5 1/2″ | 3 3/4″ x 5 1/4″ |
With you’re pieces all cut, you’re now ready to sew! Note that all my measurements assume that you will use 1/4″ seam allowances on all sewing. Anything more than that will cause too much bulk in the corners.
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Take the smallest piece of fabric and fold it in half, wrong sides together, so that the longer sides are at the bottom and the shorter sides are on the left and right. Make sure the folded edge is at the top.
Then fold each corner down so that it meets the bottom edge, and pin in place.
Take one of your pieces of chipboard (doesn’t matter which; they should all be the same width) and center it on the fabric, using it as a guide, and mark either side on the fabric with a pen.
Now sew a vertical row of stitches right where you’ve made each mark.
Then trim the corners off if there is much excess (will depend on your model’s measurements).
You’ll now have a pocket that looks something like this:
Now take one of your long pieces of fabric and place it face up on the table, with one of the ends in front of you. Place your pocket on top, lining up the bottom edge with the bottom of the long piece of fabric. Pin it in place, then flatten out the corners to get the bottom edge as smooth and flat as you can.
Take the other long piece of fabric and lay it on top, face down, with the bottom ends lined up. Pin in place.
Sew along the bottom edge (remember that 1/4″ seam allowance!) with the sewing machine.
Fold back the top piece of fabric and you’ll see your little pocket sewn inside. Use your finger to puff out the corners of the pocket.
Line up the pocket’s sides with the sides of the bottom piece. Pin in place. It will look a little squished, but just focus on the side edges and make them as square as possible.
Fold the top layer of fabric back up over the pocket, keeping the pins inside. |
Take the smallest of your three pieces of fabric and pin the four short pieces of elastic to the corners, diagonally. Make sure that the elastic goes all the way to the edge of each side.
Use the sewing machine to run a quick row of stitches along each end of each piece of elastic, to hold them in place. Sew as close to the edge of the fabric as you dare.
Don’t worry about them being really secure at this point — you’re just trying to keep them in place for the next step.
Put this piece of fabric face down on the next largest piece of fabric, all the way to one side, and line up the ends. Pin and then sew the ends together.
When you lay the fabric out, it will be the same size as your other large piece, but will have the elastic corner piece on one side.
Put the remaining large piece of fabric on top, with right sides together, and pin together at the elastic end. Sew the short end together, again at the elastic end.
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Next you’ll add the elastic band. Use a ruler to measure 2 1/2″ up from the row of stitches and mark it. Do the same on the left side. Slip the elastic in between the two long fabric pieces (like meat in a sandwich) and line it up with your marks. Let it stick out either end, and pin it in place.
Now for the big sewing! Take it to the machine and sew up the long, right side of the piece, and then again on the long, left side. Don’t sew the top shut! After it’s sewn, you can trim off the excess elastic.
Flip the whole thing inside out. You should have a loose tube which is open on one end.
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On the other end, you’ll have an elastic band on one side and a fully-formed pocket on the other.
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On the other end, you’ll have an elastic band on one side and a set of elastic corner bands on the other.
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Now take piece #1 of your chipboard and stuff it inside the tube. It should be very snug, and if your measurements are all right and you used 1/4″ seam allowances, it should fit just right.
Push the chipboard all the way down to the bottom of the tube, nice and tightly, and you should have a good, firm base.
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The pocket should have nice corners and be just the right size to fit your Kindle. Your pocket’s depth will depend on which device you have and which measurements you use. (This photo shows a Kindle 1 pocket.) Go ahead and test your Kindle now and make sure it fits well, because if you have to re-work something, now’s the time to do it!
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The elastic should be stretchy enough to slip your Kindle inside but also hold is securely. Go ahead and test your Kindle now and make sure it fits well, because if you have to re-work something, now’s the time to do it!
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Make sure the chipboard is still all the way at the bottom of the tube, then take the piece to the sewing machine and run a row of stitches all the way across the top of the chipboard, as close as possible to the board. You might find it helpful to use a zipper foot on your sewing machine, but the regular foot worked fine for me.
Now put piece #2 of the chipboard into the tube, and shove it all the way down to the row of stitches you just did. Then take it to the machine and sew another seam as close as possible to this new piece of chipboard.
Continue with pieces #3 and #4, sewing a row of stitches after each one. Finally, put piece #5 in place. (Aren’t you glad you numbered these?) With all pieces in place, there should be about an inch or so of fabric hanging off the edge. Use scissors to trim that to about a half inch.
All that’s left to do now is close up the final seam. Start by folding one flap in and tuck it down next to the chipboard.
Then fold the other flap in so that the folded edge lines up with the first one.
With a needle and thread, use a slip-stitch to sew the seam shut, and you’re done! (Not sure how? Watch our Sewing 101 video lesson to learn how to sew a slip stitch.)
The finished case is one big piece that folds up around your Kindle, with the enclosure at one end. You can fold it up around the Kindle for carrying, or prop it up like an easel when you’re using it.
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We’ve made lots of Kindle cases so far that we can show. Each one has a completely different personality because of the fabric chosen, but they’re also different because they are different devices.
Here is a Kindle 1 case with a Kindle inside.
Here’s a finished Kindle 2 case with a Kindle inside. The Kindle 2 is so much thinner than the 1 that the case is so nice and compact when folded flat. I really love this striped fabric, don’t you?
And the case folds nice and flat so you can hold the Kindle in your hand for easy reading. And all my Kindle-reading friends say that the best part is the way you can prop it up on a table if you get tired of holding it.
Jo’s husband has a Kindle that he loves, and he often likens it to the fictional handbook after which the “Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy” series of books is named. So when his birthday came up recently, I knew I had to make him a Kindle cover emblazoned just like the original Hitchhiker’s Guide, with the famous title “Don’t Panic”. He loved it!
And here’s the newest model, the Kindle Fire, with the elastic straps in the corners.
AUTHORIZED SELLERS
Do you like this cover but are hesitant about your sewing skills? Would you rather just buy one rather than sew your own? Well, here’s a list of our Authorized Sellers who we have approved to make and sell covers using our design. Each seller has a different style, so check them all out, and feel free to contact them to see if they can make just the right cover for you!
- Pascoes Petals (located in the UK)
- Nana Banana Gifts – debbieshall@gmail.com
- Krystal – kkend1@tx.rr.com
Are you interested in making and selling Kindle covers using our design and pattern? Send us an e-mail at chicaandjo@chicaandjo.com to learn about becoming an Authorized Seller.
401 comments so far:
now I need to go out and buy a Kindle just so I can make this cover.
Kelly, that sounds like a good excuse to me!
If you want colored elastic, go to a dollar store and buy an elastic headband. You’ll find them in all sorts of funky colors.
Donna, thanks for sharing such a great tip! We will definitely try that on the next case we make.
Very cool!! I posted a linkto your tutorial on Craft Gossip Sewing:
http://sewing.craftgossip.com/tutorial-sew-a-kindle-cover/2009/09/04/
–Anne
Thank goodness for you two! My Mom requested a cover for her Kindle and the thought of developing the pattern gave me nightmares! THANK YOU!
Thanks, Anne!
Joy, we’d so happy we can help you sleep better
Please let us know how your cover comes out!
Wow! This design is really, really cool! Thanks so much, I’ll be linking.
I’m leaving on a trip for quite some time and ordered the Kindle to keep me company. The fancy case I ordered won’t get here in time, so I need to make myself one!
Perfect idea!!
Let’s see if I can find a masculine fabric.
Good idea, Casey. We’d love to see what you come up with!
This was a great pattern. I made one in one evening and it works great. Now I feel like its protected. Maybe one of these days I’ll tackle that photo cube.
That’s so great to hear, Linda! We would love to see a photo if you want to add it to our Flickr group.
Just spent about two hours reading reviews on Amazon, trying to decide which case to purchase…they all had negatives….so, decided to google, not really expecting to find a pattern!! Yours looks good but is not exactly what I wanted but I am leaving tomorrow on a trip and want to take my new Kindle so I will make your design. I am going to experiment and use headliner in place of the chipboard. It is padding and will be good for protection. I figure if I use the dimensions you listed, the final product should still fold where it is supposed to…too bad I can’t get to the store to get some elastic headbands! May make the pattern and then retro engineer it later to substitute the colored elastic. Wish me luck but I have plenty of headliner and fabric!!! Thanks so much for sharing your design!!
bhhandler, we’re so glad we surprised you! I’d love to see how your holder turns out. I’ve never heard of “headliner”. What is it? And have fun on your trip!
This is probably the niftiest thing I have ever seen! thanks so much for the tutorial!
Thanks, Emmalee!
I am an experienced seamstress and I decided to use leatherette (pleather) on the outside. It worked and looks great. Not sure what I did wrong but my tube came out too short but I made it work. I found special addition Mark Twain themed fabric (Windham Fabrics) that I used on the inside. I also traded ribbon ties for elastic; turns out when the case is in flip mode the ribbons help to keep the thing standing.
Some tips for people trying for the leather look:
Use denim 100 gauge needles and heavy duty polyester thread. Use as thin a pleather as you can find (pseudo-suede works too). Before you sew the two sides together to make a tube sew a two inch piece of scrap fabric to the top “open end” of the tube, pin the sides out of the way, then sew up the sides and bottom. The little flap helps turn the edge of the leatherette and is easier to hand sew.
Amanda, that’s wonderful advice for our advanced sewers! I would love to see your cover. Would you add a photo to our Flickr group?
This is awesome. I have been searching up projects right now online to make the kids for Christmas. My kindle, a #1 generation, (the first one) is temporarily in the pawn shop. Things are tight for us this year. Anyhow, I have started a sewing blog showing the things I am making.
http://yourdailysuccessjournal.com/sewing
I am going to make this for my self, as soon as I finish the kids projects, It is cool to have something that is actually hands free. Thanks. BTW, I have boxes and boxes of 3 ring binders in storage, I won a whole lot of them (over 300) on ebay one year from the state surplus store. So if anyone reading this wants to buy a bulk of them visit my blog and I will negotiate a great deal to send them to you.
I am excited to make this project.
Laurie
Hi Laurie. So glad our project idea has inspired you! Good luck with your new blog, and we hope you get that Kindle back soon
I just did a web search to sew my own cover, and found your site. This is perfect. I just ggot my Kindle2 today, and I have a friend who got hers almost a year ago. I will go through my fabric stash and choose fabric for 2 covers.
As for elastic in other colors. If you have a JoAnn’s near your. Look in their assorted ribbon bags. I bought two bags recently, and found that more than half of what was being called ribbon, was actually different colors of 1/2″ thick elastic.
Thank you
Congratulations on your new Kindle, Judi, and thanks so much for the tip about colored elastic. I’ll keep an eye out!
i made one in about 2 hours. i love it!
Awesome, K! We’d love to see it if you want to post a photo to our Flickr group.
Thank you for a wonderful tutorial!
I just got a kindle 2 and I absolutely adore it!
for my cover, I bought some thin batting that I stuck to each side of my cardboard pieces using spray adhesive for extra protection. It worked out wonderfully!
as for fabric, i used a whimsical print on the outside, and a rich, luxurious suede on the inside (since this project didn’t require much fabric, I was able to splurge a little with the suede!)
as for the elastic, i couldn’t find any colors other than black and white to match my fabric. So what i did was sew a long and narrow strip of fabric, flipped it, and using a safety pin fed the elastic through it. This make a pretty casing that matched my fabric. Of course, I bunched up fabric in the casing so I would have room to stretch
thank you so much!
Now i have a case that has my name written all over it!
Camilla, congrats on your Kindle 2! Your cover sounds wonderful, and I really love your solution for the elastic. So clever! We’d love to see a photo if you’d be willing to share. You can post it in our Flickr group or e-mail it to us.
I made mine in about two hours also. My fabric is almost exactly like your stripey fabric – something I picked up at a rummage sale for a quarter. I used the cover of a beat-up childrens book for the board – great way to recycle these, which are a dime a dozen at garage sales! I LOVE this pattern and plan to make a couple more for myself. One addition I plan to make on my next one is a piece of elastic on the inside to hold the Kindle 2 across the top. I found that my fabric is slippery, and the Kindle slides out if not held tightly while flipping the cover around. I also found that it falls out forward if I read it while laying down and don’t tip it back a bit or hold it tightly to the cover with my hand. I added a piece of colored elastic across the top and found it distracting. Best for the inside would be a color that matches the Kindle – so that bland white would work! Thanks again – this is a GREAT pattern – well worth the time to put it together, and PERFECT directions! TY! TY! TY!
denise, thanks so much for the detailed comment. We’re thrilled that you were pleased with the pattern and the directions. I love the idea of using the old book cover. There are so many fun ways to recycle if you really think about it! We’d love to see photos of your cover if you want to share them with us in our Flickr group!
One of our readers, Sama, recently created a custom Kindle case using this tutorial, and shared the photos with us. I’ve posted them in our Flickr group, or you can access them directly with these links: [ 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 ] Thanks so much for sharing, Sama!
You can always tie-die the elastic for FUN colors too!
Please!!! Need measurements for the nook e reader , I absolutely love this project!! also any ideas for the closure versus elastic ( I like the security of the elastic though) I noticed sam used a button
Hi Jacqueline! I’m so glad you like this project. I have actually been working on a formula to generate measurements for other devices (like the DX or the nook) and here is what I’ve come up with. Please let me know if this formula works for you, and if so, I’ll add it to the main project post!
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For the cardboard, the width of all pieces should be 1/2″ wider than the device.
For the length of each cardboard piece:
– Cut piece #1 to the same as the height as the device.
– Cut piece #2 to 1/2″ more than the thickness of the device.
– Cut piece #3 to 1/4″ more than the height of the device.
– Cut piece #4 to 1/2″ more than the thickness of the device.
– Cut piece #5 to half the height of the device
For the fabric, all three pieces need to be 1/2 inch wider than the cardboard. That will allow for a 1/4″ seam allowance on each side, and it should fit the width of the cardboard snugly.
As for the length of the two larger pieces of fabric, I would lay out all of your cardboard pieces, end to end, like I did in this picture. Then measure how long that is total, and add about 3 inches to that. Cut your fabric that long and it should be enough to handle the seams and the flap at the end.
The length of the smaller piece of fabric will depend on how far up the front of the device you want it to come. You want it to be secure, but not up so high that it covers the screen or buttons. To determine the measurement, start by measuring up the front of the device to see how much of it you want the pocket to cover. Then double that. Then add 1/2″ for seam allowances. Then add three times the thickness of the device. (For example: If you want to cover
three inches on the front of the device and your device is 1/2″ thick, then your measurement would be (3×2)+.5+(3x.5) = 8″
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Whew. Hope that makes sense, and I hope my guesses are right! Please let us know how it goes.
Thank you SO much! I love this Kindle case! I love it on so many levels: it is “mine” – made with fabric that expresses who I am, it didn’t cost $50, it works as a stand so I can read hands free – just place a pillow on your lap and put the Kindle in its case on the pillow and there you go!
Another suggestion for the elastic is to “dye” it with acrylic paint mixed with fabric medium. You can customize it to match your fabric.
Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!
Patty, thanks so much for your comments. We’re so glad you love your custom Kindle case
We’d love to see a picture of it if you’re willing to share.
And what a great idea for the elastic!
I used foam core board from my son’s old science project. I used 7 inches for the width. It worked out great! There’s substance to the cover. What about possibly using all those plastic campaign or advertising signs that everyone sees out and about? I think that those would work great too!
Stephanie, that’s a great idea. I love any clever re-use of “trash” and this definitely qualifies. Thanks for sharing your great solution
Thank you so much for this pattern. I received a Kindle2 for Christmas and have been using the regular black Amazon cover. I’ve been trying to decide what the best cover would be for me, but I couldn’t decide on color, pattern, style, etc, etc. Well, tonight I thought I’d give this a try and use some material that I have and that I just love. I used foam board instead of chipboard because it is a little thicker, more shock absorbent, and lighter. Now I have a Kindle Cover that I not only LOVE, but that can be hands free when I’m laying in the bed. Wooowooooo! Thanks so much for sharing.
Helena, I’m so glad we were able to help you make a case you love. They say if you want something done right, do it yourself, right?
We’d love to see a photo of your case if you want to share it with us in our Flickr group.
Thanks Chica and Jo for this pattern. I just received a Kindle 2 today and made the cover. It is perfect. Love it, love it, love it. I’m going to made another and work on the way I sewed the foam board in, or make my pieces a bit shorter in length. I ran out of room and had to sew a piece on the very end. You are very clever. Thanks for sharing. I made a note to send a picture later
That’s wonderful to hear, Joyce! Can’t wait to see a picture
I just finished making a case for the Kindle2 my DH gave me for Valentine’s Day. Great directions and pictures! I used flannel for the inside fabric and I adhered some Warm & Natural fleece to the ‘outside’ fabric using spray adhesive. If anyone else does this, I’d suggest adding to the measurements above to compensate. I trimmed down the chipboard and made out ok. I so rarely make stuff for me, this was a treat! Thanks.
Hi idosew, and congrats on making something for yourself for once!
We’d love to see how your Kindle case came out, if you want to upload a photo to our Flickr group or e-mail it to us!
you can dye your elastic with a mix of the cheap refill printer ink/water.
Thank you so much for the great tutorial! I made mine in just a few hours last night and I couldn’t be happier with it- especially saving $30, since I had everything I needed on hand. Absolutely love that I can prop it up, my favorite feature by far.
Only changes I made was to add elastic to go accross the top of the Kindle and I covered the main elastic with fabric.
I’ll add my pics to the flikr group too!
Love your site- I’ve made the photo cube as well for gifts and they were a HUGE hit.
Mary, your cover turned out awesome. I love how you wrapped the elastic in fabric! Thanks so much for sharing your photos, too. (Everyone else, check them out here)
One of our readers, Tina, just told me about the Kindle cover she made with our tutorial. Her husband is a big fan of Douglas Adams, too, so she made him a cover that says “Just don’t panic” in Slovenian. Check out Tina’s blog entry for details!
Instead of colored elastic why not just make a casing for the elastic?
This is called fold over elastic (FOE) and is available in colors at buntefabrics.com.
I don’t know if it will be sturdy enough, but it is cute and colorful! Thanks for the tutorial, I will be making this tonight for my dad’s b-day party tomorrow. Check it out on my blog if you wish.
Julee, thanks for sharing that info with everyone on an option for colored elastic! FOE looks pretty interesting. Good luck with the case, and let us know how it goes
Hello! Thanks for the fab custom Kindle case tutorial. I made it last night for my dad’s birthday today! He loves his Kindle and is forever misplacing it. I think he will be able to find it now, thanks to you I posted mine on my blog and will also add it to your flickr group! You guys are great!
I get tons of compliments on my cover. I just made a second one last week, for a family member, and it came out even better. I made the pocket in a contrasting fabric for added cuteness. I’ll try to take a picture for your flickr group. Thank you for the pattern!
I have the Nook, I love it! Here are the dimensions of the Nook for you!
Height: 7.7 inches
Width: 4.9 inches
Depth: 0.5 inches
This is the official dimensions from the B&N website. I figured it was more accurate than my measurement!
I can’t wait! Your designs are wonderful, keep up the great work!
Melodie
Hi Melodie. Thanks for sharing the measurements for the Nook. I came up with a formula a while ago that should work for any device, and I listed it in comment #32 above. I’m still waiting for somebody to try it out on their device and let me know if it works or not, then I’ll put it up in the main post. If you want to make a case for your Nook, why not try the formula? We’d love to hear how it works out
I just used the measurements in #32 to make a cover for my sony pocket. It worked great! Thanks so much for this easy to follow pattern.
Thanks so much, gcookie. I’ve just copied the formula up into the main post, at the end, so that everyone can see it easily.
Btw, we’d love to see a photo of your Sony cover if you want to e-mail it to us or add it to our Flickr group!
I just finished a cover for my Nook (bought it last night!).Your directions were great. If anyone makes one, don’t worry about things like 7.95″–just make it 8. FWIW these are the cardbord sizes I used:
1. 7.75 x 5.5
2. 1 x 5.5
3. 8 x 5.5
4. 1 x 5.5
5. 3.75 x 5.5
Trust me, do number your cardboard. They are a BEAR to cut, the instructions take brain power to follow along, you’ll make mistakes and curse yourself, so by the time you get to putting in these pieces, you just want to go on auto-pilot.
I did cover my elastic. Big mistake–I covered it exactly and then couldn’t figure out why it didn’t stretch. Big brain lag. Then I figured it out. Fortunately, I followed the instructions that said to try it out after you put in the first piece of cardboard. You will be so glad you did this in case you have any mistakes. This was easy to recover from at this point. I also added a band across the top and this is a good time to check that it’s where you want.
Thank you so much for this cover. I think! My hands may never recover from cutting that board!
Marguerite
I’m sending you a couple of photos of my cover just to show everyone know it doesn’t have to be perfect. Mine certainly isn’t (precision work is not my forte). But this pattern works anyway. Don’t sweat the 1/4″ seam, just get close! Try tearing your fabric to get straight pieces if you don’t have a rotary cutter & mat.
Marguerite
Marguerite, thanks so much for all the useful tips. I’m sure our readers will really appreciate them!
All the tips are outstanding!! Yay! Marguerite, bless you. MATH is not MY forte, so I appreciate all your hard work. I want to eliminate the whole “easel” element since I just want something to protect my nook from being battered in my purse and refused to pay $30+ for it. I also plan to cover my elastic – wonderful idea! Thank you so much. This perfectly awesome. I will put up an update when I’m done.
Okay, finished! I ended up doing the whole thing, and with the exception of the pocket; which drove me crazy, it went along great. Thanks for a wonderful pattern!
That’s great to hear, Dee! We’d love to see a picture of your finished case if you want to e-mail it to us or add it to our Flickr group.
WOW! This cover is totally amazing. took a look at the flicker site to see what fabric others have tried. I’m on my way to the fabric store now.
Has anyone made one for the Sony PRS-900? Just curious as to the dimensions used. I will be using the formula Chica gave and get back to you.
Hi 4nefertiti. We haven’t heard of anyone making a cover for the Sony PRS-900, but can’t wait to hear what results you get. Let us know!
Thank you for this great tutorial! I am a beginner at sewing, but I thought I’d give this a shot. It took me a lot longer than 2 hours (more like 5
), but I did it! I made mine for a 5″ Astak Pocket Pro, and your formula for converting it to other sizes worked well. The first time I tried it I made everything too tight so my reader wouldn’t fit, so I tried it again, and this time made it a bit loose. Oh well, I’m learning. 
Thanks again for the tutorial!
Emily, we’re so proud of you for sticking with it and creating something great. Thanks for letting us know the formula worked for the Astak. We’d all love to see your finished case, so why not add a photo to our Flickr group?
Thanks! I’ve never used Flickr before, but I think I’ve got it up there now.
Emily, thanks for posting your photos! Your cover looks fantastic. Readers can see Emily’s photos here, here, and here.
Nope, that’s not mine, although it does look great!
I must not have figured out how to post it. Does it work if I give you this link? http://www.flickr.com/photos/49780864@N02/
Haha, thanks for the correction, Emily! We have so many lovely additions to our group lately that I thought that one was yours
The link you provided does work. Love your cover, thanks for sharing!
A thought on the colored elastic:
while dollar store elastic headbands are great idea they may limit your style and color choices so why not just make something similar in a fabric that matches or compliments your case
Just cut fabric of choice 2 1/2times the width of the elastic strip and 2 1/2 times the length( more or less depending on the look you want and how much you need the elastic to stretch) fold in half with the back of the fabric facing out and sew with enough space from the fold for the elastic to fit in easily turn inside out (I use a pencil to make it easier)
Insert the elastic into the fabric and scrunch the fabric together until the ends line up with the ends of the elastic and attatch as you would according to the Instructions
Btw super cute idea my only qualm is the lack of ability to use the keyboard
I made one for my iPad which works great : I just cut appropriately sized and shaped holes for the buttons and speakers
Thanks for the great idea and tutorial!
Justine, thanks for the suggestion on covering the elastic with a sleeve of coordinating fabric. A few other readers have tried this and had good luck with it.
I love that you were able to use this idea to make an iPad cover, too! If you care to share a photo with us all, you can add it to our Flickr group.
Heyy,
So I loved reading all of the great ideas and comments. I wanted more of an open book style, basically I just flipped yours around. I took my kindle 2 to a book store and looked around in the bargain section for a hard cover book that would fit the kindle plus a tiny extra. They had tons! And it just made it extra sturdy. I also found a sweatshirt that was $8 that had that super soft side. so I used the outside of the sweater for the cover and back, and the soft side for the inside. It turned out really well, and it was the style I was going for! Thanks for your comments!
Mercedes, what a great idea! It was ingenious to use an old book cover, too. We’d love to see a photo of your case if you care to add one to our Flickr group.
I’m a terrible seamstress but wanted a cover for my new Kindle. Your pattern is wonderful! I had some fabric i really liked on hand, and I’m very pleased with the results, despite my poor sewing skills. Pictures on my blog: http://dephal.blogspot.com
Thanks so much!
Great job, dephal!
I just finished the Kindle case and love it. I
downloaded the directions a long, long time ago and am so glad I finally took the time to sit down and do it. I have a nice store-bought case, but I knew yours was perfect for what I wanted most — a way to read my Kindle while eating. Now I can safely stand it up right in front of me. Thanks!!
Also, I wanted to tell you that I used an elastic
headband — hot pink — for the elastic. You can get them at the Dollar store in lots of colors super cheap. While you’re there, get a bunch of
those ponytail elastic things that come in all colors. They come in handy for sewing projects, too. Thanks again for the tutorial. I love it.
Billie, thanks for the update! So glad you made the cover and are thrilled with it
We’d love to see a photo if you want to upload one to our Flickr group.
Also, thanks for the great tip about the elastic headband. I love that idea!
Thought you might want to take a look at the cover I made today. http://www.flickr.com/photos/vivage/sets/72157624467377040/with/4781326395/ Really nice tutorial – so much nicer than buying an expensive book like cover.
Great job, vo! I love the beaded glass piece you added. We’re happy you like our tutorial
I am excited about making my own cover for the Kindle 3 which, of course, I don’t have yet. I am probably crazy for trying to make the cover before I get my ereader, but just maybe it will fit!
I have a question about your formula for other devices. In step #3 you say that all three pieces are the same width and need to be 1/2 inch wider than the cardboard. However, in your chart for the Kindle 1, the smaller piece of material is one inch wider than the long piece, and the Kindle 2 small piece is 1/4 inch wider than the long piece. Making the pocket piece the same width as the other two pieces did not work for me.
The Kindle 3 is 4.8 inches wide. How wide should the pocket piece be?
Ellen, I’m excited for you about your Kindle 3. Hope you love it!
Thanks for your comments about my formula. The reason for the differences in width of the pocket piece for Kindle 1 and 2 is due to the different thicknesses of the two devices. The Kindle 1 is thicker, so the pocket needs to be deeper.
That means that you found a flaw in my formula! I had forgotten to account for the thickness of the device when creating the pocket piece. I have fixed it, though, and I think you’ll be happier with these results. Try plugging your Kindle 3′s width and thickness in to the formula now and you should get a better pocket size.
Please let us know how it goes!
I really want to make this, but can’t because I don’t have a sewing machine, and I don’t know what to do :{
Hi Irina. You still have three options for making a cover without a sewing machine. First, you could sew it by hand. That may take a while, but it’s a possibility! Second, you could try using Stitch Witchery. One of our readers, Sama, made a cover like this using nothing but Stitch Witchery and seemed to get good results. You can see her photos in our Flickr group here. Finally, you could ask around and see if any of your friends or family members have a sewing machine you could borrow.
Good luck and I hope you find a way to make a cover!
Thank you. I just bought the material this morning.
I’ll try doing it by hand.
Hi, anybody done the measurements for the new Kindle 3?
I’m interested in exploring your design for a Kindle 3. But I’m trying to understand – would your design cover the keyboard? I think I use the keyboard a lot with the Kindle 3.
Harriet, you’ve brought up a very good point. I just took a look at the Kindle 3G and I think the pocket on our case design would indeed cover the keyboard. I’m not sure how much the keyboard is used for regular reading, and I haven’t gotten to see a Kindle 3G up close yet. If I ever get my hands on one, I’ll be sure to think about an alternate design idea!
Chica, IMHO, the keyboard is not used on the latest gen. Kindle during reading. The page buttons are located on the left and right side of the screen, well above the keyboard area. However, as a work around for those people who think the pocket would harm the functionality, what about using velcro strips to attach the Kindle to the cover? You could sew the velcro to the fabric where the back of the Kindle would rest inside the cover and use those Contact picture hanging strips (the ones that pull off the wall with no residue) to attach the velcro to the back of the Kindle.
I think I’ll try that when I make mine tonight. I’ll let you know how it works and will post pics.
Thanks for this great idea!
Thanks so much for the feedback, Leslie! Sounds like you have a good plan in mind, and I can’t wait to hear how it comes out
You guys are great!! thanks for this clear instructions! I found this website couple months ago and I thought it would make a great gift for my husband’s birthday next week so I just finished making one! even though the instructions were very clear, I struggled with making a perfect pocket for some reason, I had to redo it over and over until I was fully satisfied with it. I chose a state high ways fabric because I thought it is not too girlie and I didn’t want to use a plain boring fabric, lol
I think it turned out nice! check the final pic on http://www.burdastyle.com/projects/custom-kindle-cover thanks again!!
Reem, it turned out great and we love the fabric. Sorry you had a hard time with the pocket but we bet it will be easy for you if you make another one for someone for Christmas.
I’m having trouble figuring out the measurements for the Kindle 3. Anybody have the measurements?
Thanks for the great pattern! I have made several kindle covers since finding this pattern. They work so well. I even made one for a friend of mine after she saw pictures of the one I made for myself. I wasn’t a huge fan of the pocket cause I like to have access to the keyboard, so I made mine with corner squares instead. I added photos of mine to the flicker group. I hope everyone has as much fun making these covers as I had making mine.
April, love how you did the corners! Readers, make sure you check out her pictures in our Flikr group to see how she did it. This is a great alternative if you want keyboard access. I love the skin you have on your Kindle as well!
Hi, thought I’d let people know that I have just made one of these for a Kindle 3 using the formula above. It turned out fine. I can send the measurements I used if this would help anyone.
Thanks so much for the feedback, Toby! If you want to send me the measurements (or post them here), I’d be happy to put them into the instructions in the post.
Toby sent me pictures of his Kindle 3G case, which I’ve posted in our Flickr group here and here.
I was so excited to find these instructions and made my cover two days after getting my Kindle 3. Instead of a pocket, I sewed two 5/8″ strips of elastic (pulled somewhat tightly)across the width of the cover. One was placed above the screen, the other across the bottom between the screen and the keyboard. The upper set of keys is covered, I can either pull it up if I need to, but can also easiy hit the menu key through the elastic. It stays in place, but I think I may try the velcro idea above to give it a bit more security.
I just completed my e-reader cover! It is perfect. I made it for my Barnes @ Noble Nook. Your formula worked beautifully! I used a beautiful blue paisley quilted fabric. I love it! Thank you!
That’s wonderful to hear, Delores! I’m so glad the formula worked for you. Any chance you’d share a picture with us?
Thanks! I used the formula to make a case to fit my Kindle 3 and it’s perfect. I wrote about it in both my blogs with photos and a link to your tutorial
http://ramblingsofachristianmom.blogspot.com/2010/10/cool-new-toy.html
http://babybundleboutique.blogspot.com/2010/10/super-cool-kindle-cover.html
Savannah, your cover is gorgeous. Thanks so much for sharing your photos!
I pre-ordered a cover for the kindle latest generation and the shipping is delayed even longer now. I’m going to try this pattern. I like the pocket on this and the way you can use it as an easel. Thanks for the pattern. I will try to post a picture of mine when I finish.
Wonderful, Dawn. We would love to see a pic!
Silly humans! Why make it harder on yourselves? Start with the molded cardboard (or whatever it is) insert that the Kindle came packed in. (Assuming you haven’t done something silly like throw it away.) Separate the top and bottom halves from the box. The bottom has the up- and down-page controls, the top has the perfectly measured screen area. Decide which side will become hinged, and allow extra space there. Cut away with an Xacto knife the surrounding cardboard. Applique, paint, or whatever to your heart’s content. Voila, the perfect Kindle kradle.
Found your site (and bookmarked it!) while searching for a pattern for a Kindle cover. I was just going to make a pouch for it until I saw your pattern. I am a quilter, so I will follow your directions but will try to incorporate a quilt theme into it, maybe do one side pieced. Will let you know if I’m successful. Thanks.
Welcome, Andi! Please let us see how it turns out!
Dear Chica and Jo, I made the kindle cover and LOVE it so much. It allows me to carry my kindle around without worry of damaging it on surfaces or the occasional fall to the floor. Thank you. It was a fun project.
We would love to see how yours turned out. Please share a picture with us in our Flikr group. So glad you like our case!
Here are the pictures of the Kindle cover: http://www.flickr.com/photos/55068003@N04/5107194288/ and http://www.flickr.com/photos/55068003@N04/5106596077/
That looks great, Douglas. Thanks for sharing!
Could some one pretty please give my the measurements for the kindle 3- I am so dumb!!!m I simply cannot calculate this properly. Thank you soooo much! Lorna from nc
Just an FYI if you are doing an obvious pattern of fabric be sure to allow cutting the length of the fabric for the big pieces( it will be more than 1/2 yard) instead of the width of the fabric( which will turn you pattern or stripes sideways) ask me how I know????
Haven’t actually completed the sewing part as I just cut the fabric wrong so I have to do it again….but will persevere.
Great tip, Judi. Which direction you cut the fabric can make a big difference with bold patterns. Good luck on your second try!
I cranked this out in about 90 min this evening b/c my husband was traveling for the first time with his new Kindle and I was afraid it would get broken going thru security and rattling around his suitcase. He has the new Kindle 3G and your formula worked perfectly! Thanks so much.
Sheila, glad the tutorial worked so well for you. Would love to see a picture of what you created.
Hey. Thanks for the great design on the kindle cover. Here’s the one I made: http://i.imgur.com/tQvwl.jpg
One important thing I noticed, though–the newest kindle is so slim, leaving half an inch on the top and bottom spacers in addition to the thickness of the device seems excessive. The cover ended up being too loose, and the device was in serious danger of falling out, so I took out the seam, halved the width of the top spacer, and replaced it, as well as adding the elastic.
It could just be that I’m not an overtly gifted tailor, and this was the first complex piece I’ve sewed. Never could’ve pulled it off without your excellent instructions! Thanks again!
Evan, thanks for sharing that photo. Your cover looks great! I’m sure our readers who have the newest Kindle will appreciate your advice, too.
Hi,
I made a kindle 2 cover a year ago when my husband bought me my kindle for xmas…it turned out great! I used an old flannel sheet for the fabric and I liked the flannel b/c when I rest it on my leg, it doesn’t slide! I just made another cover (just cut the old fabric from the cardboard and re-used the cardboard)…wanted a change!
My sister is getting a kindle next for xmas from her fella and i want to make a cover for her…thanks so much for posting the measurements! This is the THE BEST kindle cover b/c you can prop it up…no other one touches this one for practicality and creativity. Will send a link to my pic.
Thanks so much!
I posted earlier about this great project. Here’s the cover I just made! Go to:
http://web.me.com/becwest222/Site/Last_Import.html
Nice fabric choice, Rebecca! Great job! I think it is great you reused the cardboard to make a new design, how thrifty!
Well, this was the most frustrating looks-easy project ever. Wish I could blame it on the tutorial or my sewing skills, but I think its just hard to do without the proper e-reader in hand. I was trying to make one as an x-mas present with measurements from Amazon for a new kindle that hasn’t yet arrived, and of course I was doing it at the same time as the comment above about the top being too wide. It does look way too wide with the 1/2″ extra on the top chipboard. Also the pocket is quite short, so I don’t think it will stay in. Now there’s no way I can take it apart and re-make it with this (pretty!) fabric: my quilting cotton has been stretched at the stitches by the tight fit with the chipboard and at 1/4″ I just don’t think it will take a re-sewing. Maybe people should be warned to serge the inner seam? But that makes it a more difficult project. Sigh. I may add an elastic band with a cover all the way around the top and maybe glue it at a few points? I’m disappointed. Its so pretty.
Kathleen, I’m sorry to hear you had a hard time with this project. Hopefully when the e-reader arrives, it will end up fitting after all. It would definitely be a shame to ruin pretty fabric!
I love this idea. I want to get a color Nook (I don’t have one yet) but when I do I’m going to make this. You have total autonomy when you make your own things. Thanks for the formulas (it’s saves me wracking my brains). For the ideas for the cardboard. I need to get a Nook first LOL It too me awhile to get onboard but I see frequent travel in my future (I have two daughters. One in NC and one in SD, I live in IL and the one is SD will be on the move to who knows where her hubby is in the Air Force). So travel is ahead and the electronic readers make taking reading material easy. Whether in a car, on a plane or wherever. The color one lets me get magazines something else I love to read. And the Nook lets me trade books with other Nook friends. And will keep my book population down (something my non reader husband doesn’t understand).
Thanks for this I made a “temporary” cover for my new kindle 3 using your ideas, but did not add the pocket as I wanted to be able to use the keyboard on the kindle with out removing it. So I used two black elastic loops which I made from black elastic to hold it in place and a third to hold the flap down, as the K3 is so thin I missed out the narrow strips and just stitched through so the case lies nice and flat over the ends. 3 months on and I think the case is staying, although I might make another when I find the right bit of fabric, I made this one from the leg on of a pair of my husbands old office trousers which is really strong.
Thanks again.
Jane, thanks for the tips on altering the pattern for a K3. Stay tuned, we’ll be posting about a cover for the K3 very shortly! Merry Christmas!
Hey everybody, I finally got my hands on a Kindle 3 to test with. Some of you suggested the the formula added a little too much thickness (the extra 1/2″) to the case, and I agree. I’ve put my Kindle 3 measurements in the table within the post. Hope that helps you all!
I have a Kindle 3 and am going to try your pattern. I have aleather cover, but being able to prop it up is something I really want to do so here goes.
Good luck Lenae, and let us know how it goes!
Tried out the Kindle 3 formula you recently posted. I’ve had this bookmarked and was extremely excited to come back this morning to find that you updated the chart with the Kindle 3 dimensions. I just finished it. I wish my slip stitch was decent, but oh well. I found it extremely hard to get the board in the sleeve and had to shave it down a little bit. I also used an old 70s printed college grade Biology book for my board. So it could be that the hard back is thicker than the boards in a 3 ring binder OR I didn’t hold true to the 1/4 inch. I’m new to sewing with a machine and this is only the second pattern I’ve tried (the first was a child’s apron last week). I sure hope it fits around the edges of the Kindle 3 well. I will find out on Saturday when I give it to my mother in law for Christmas. I will leave another note if I think adjustments are needed for a second one. Thanks for the tutorial!! My mother in law bought me this sewing machine last Christmas, and I’m really excited to give her something back that I made with her gift
Natalie, I’m so happy that I put the formula up in time for you to use. Using an old Biology book cover is an awesome and crafty idea! I’ll bet the extra thickness is what led to the snugness in the fabric. Cutting the board smaller was definitely the right thing to do, and I think you’ll find the case is still plenty big enough. We can’t wait to hear how your mother-in-law likes it. Using the sewing machine she gave you to make her a gift is wonderful!
Thanks for the pattern girls. May I post a link to the pattern on Facebook? The others Farmgirls in the Mary Jane’s Farm group would love this. I just ordered a kindle. I will make one today for my new toy. I think I will use heavyweight clear plastic for the pocket so I can use the keyboard without taking it out. That will probably help hold it in too. http://www.Homesew.com has colored elastic.
Liz, feel free to share a link to this post on Facebook. Thanks for the source for colored elastic!
I am using iron on vinyl over super man fabric for my son… Hope it works out.
Super Man fabric sounds awesome, Jodie. We’d love to see how it turns out!
Just made this cover for my new Kindle – the directions were perfect. Thanks for the great pattern.
Chica, I am so excited! I just bought some fabric and I was going to try to design my own cover, but I like yours so much that I am going to use your pattern! Will post pictures when I am done. I work at JoAnn Fabrics, so I will make one to display at the store and will put your link on it! Can’t wait to get started!!
That’s wonderful, Amy! We can’t wait to see your photos.
I just made one for my son from checkered fabric like the kind that chef pants are made from. I’m so proud of myself (as I am no seamstress!)and I am grateful for your excellent tutorial. Next up, a floral one for my mommy!
I am so excited about trying this out. Thanks for posting!! Though I think I might tweak it a bit. I’d like to have a pocket for notes and things and instead of placing the reader in a pocket, I’m going to add some corner elastic pieces. I am pretty clumsy and would like a little added protection, something that will hold the kindle in place. I’ll definitely post back with some pictures if it works out.
Holly, we’re proud of you, too!
Mattie, an extra pocket for notes is a great idea!
Thank you! I uploaded pics to the group.
BTW, headliner is the lightly padded fabric that is used to line the interior roof of a car. I would never have known that except that my husband bought some at Joann’s and re-did our Jeep. We bought it used and there were cigarette burns up there!
I made this today using silk . I worked for a company making silk pillows and sachets for years and have loads of it. I made a few adjustments using my experience. I added 1/2 inch to the width as silk frays badly. I like to be able to wake my kindle up easily , so I used corner straps. I cut up an old children’t library book for the board and made the last piece 6 inches instead of 4. I covered a 1 inch wide piece of elastic with contrast silk and added a contrast pocket on the outside. I put a piece of binding in the middle for softness as I have loads of it. I have pics if someone tells me how to put them on here. Also, in one pic is the hemostat tool I use to turn everything. I have been using it for 11 years and can turn a pillow in seconds with it. Hope you like my changes.
Think I got the pics figured out, Here are 5, the camera is charging with the rest of them.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/57663070@N08/5301308590/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/57663070@N08/5301307828/in/photostream/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/57663070@N08/5300712295/in/photostream/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/57663070@N08/5301306438/in/photostream/
Wow, Holly, thanks for sharing that useful tidbit with us! I never would’ve guessed that myself
That looks wonderful, Lori! Thanks so much for sharing your modifications and photos with everyone. How wonderful it must be to have loads of silk sitting around
Okay < I got the rest of the pics uploaded and realized I said binding instead of batting up above. Here are the rest.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/57663070@N08/5301304261/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/57663070@N08/5301299519/in/photostream/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/57663070@N08/5301889154/in/photostream/
I have 11 years worth of custom designed beautiful silks. I made all my kids silk christmas tree skirts. LOL. I love designing things . My dog even has silk jackets. I also have many furs and assorted other fabrics.
I came across this website yesterday evening and decided I would make one for my daughter, she has the kindle 3. Went to the dollar store and purchased some elastic hair bands, I already had everything else (I am a quilter and always have fabric at hand and my sewing machine ready). The directions were PERFECT! Put the whole thing together in about 45min. It turned out great! I will send pictures. Thank you
Wonderful, Rosetta! Can’t wait to see photos
Planning to order my Kindle 3 next week so I would be very interested in seeing Holly Roverts cover using the headliner fabric as I had considered that as well. I can see myself making many different versions!! Great tutorial!!!!
I cut out 10 different brightly colored silk covers last night. I am putting batting in for padding. I made an adjustment, i took one of the corner straps and put elastic in it for ease of taking it out. So excited to get started.
What a cute idea!! Thanks!!
I really like the cover pattern for the Kindle.
My problem is I can’t fine any cute patterns for my Sony Pocket prs350. It is smaller than most ereaders. I’d like one that’s made like a journal that has a strap fastner or elastic loop to a button. I enjoy sewing/quilting if I only had a pattern. Hope someone has some ideas for me.
Patricia, I haven’t tried making one with the strap/loop/button closure like you’ve described, but our formula at the bottom of the tutorial should work for creating one of our covers to fit any size case.
I have a kobo, one of the more readily available ereaders in Australia, and this pattern worked almost perfectly using the formula for measurements. I did alter pieces 2 and 4 to be half the size as my first attempt with 1/2″ more than the thickness was much too thick. Luckily I have the patience to sit there and unpick rows and rows of stitches!
I also used round cord elastic which comes in lots of colours rather than 1/2″ wide elastic and it worked just fine, as black and white didn’t really match my fabric. All in all I’m really pleased with the result!
http://img816.imageshack.us/i/imag0088y.jpg/
http://img690.imageshack.us/i/imag0089fv.jpg/
http://img220.imageshack.us/i/imag0090l.jpg/
A beautiful, simple, cheap and gorgeous design, love it!
I am also now addicted to your site!!
Wow,
Your tutorial making custom kindle cover cases surely is one of the best i read online, presenting an alternative version to classic kindle covers stores.
Thanks for your eye opening solution.
This was the absolute best thing I have come across all week. I just got my Kindle 3G for Christmas and I love DIY projects so I was just thrilled when I came across this. I think next time I make it though, I will use ribbon for tying it closed, and a wider card board… I may also consider adhering some batting to the middle section of the cardboard to offer a tad more protection to the screen in the event that it is dropped or something is dropped on it (read a three year old and a five year old wreeking havoc
) I can see myself having many of these, like shoes or purses and choosing one that matches my book title or the season. Great Tute… Thanks!
So glad we made your week, Andea! Our readers come up with really neat modifications to this tutorial to suit their needs, and your ideas are no exception. And having several different covers with different patterns certainly sounds like a good idea to me!
I LOVEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE my new kindle cover!!!!!! i wish i was more accurate at the sewing machine but omg LOVE IT! thanks for sharing!!!!
I made more silk ones, and a flannel one in which I changed the straps again. I’ve already thought of another way I like better, so am planning the next one. FOr those people saying they will wrap their board in batting, it will slide off when you put the board in. It’s much simpler to lay the batting on the bottom and sew it in. Then you turn it and the board slides easily in. I used fleece in the flannel one for lining and it did not work well. It took me an hour to get the board in, but I am using old library books and the board is heavy duty.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/57663070@N08/5330496283/in/photostream/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/57663070@N08/5331110948/in/photostream/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/57663070@N08/5330491889/in/photostream/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/57663070@N08/5330491889/in/photostream/
I like the cover with the gap for the home and back buttons… I’m going to try making a bigger pocket for my kindle cover, and cutting a hole in it to access the keyboard
i have made 2 of these kindle covers the first one was not perfect and wasn’t the fabric i wanted but i loved it none the less…. well this time i had my mother in laws help making it and its made out of an old pair of jeans
http://s234.photobucket.com/albums/ee68/racerchick1986/all%20me/?action=view¤t=007.jpg
and then instead of sewing the elastic in to the material i made a garter style band for around the whole thing i just sewed ribbon to streched out elastic and then sewn the ends together and there you go a garter style band for around it!
this one i love because its so me. im a cowgirl so jeans it is, then the red country style garter and then when i find the right one that will go perfectly im putting a horse patch on it!
thank you again for putting this pattern on the internet and making it so simple for people to follow!
Finally, pics of my cover I made using your pattern. I used plastic left over from covering the windows in the winter to make the pocket, instead of fabric. I can still use the keyboard and it protects the keys. My letters were starting to come off already.
http://welcometomyworld-leilaht.blogspot.com/2011/01/kindle-cover-pics.html
Thanks for the alternate instructions. I have a Nook with the lighted cover. I will be making a cover to also cover the lighted cover. I don’t need to make 1 but 2. The Boss saw mine and went out and bought himself the same set up…So I have to figure out something so our Nooks look different
steph, we love to make things from old jeans, so of course we love your denim cover! That’s a great idea to stretch elastic and then sew ribbon to it, too. You’re so clever!
Liz, using plastic for a see-through pocket was a brilliant idea!
Zada, a custom cover is a great way to make sure you know which Kindle is yours
I love this idea!! i will be soon ordering my kindle 3. I would like to have a pocket in mine though. and i don’t know how to alter the pattern myself. any tips? also if i put some fleece in the part that covers the screen would that help the protection? and third i like the idea of the corner holders in a comment/picture above. and again i dont know how to alter the pattern on my own. and advice or measurements/instructions would help SO much
Hi Madi. Some of our other readers who have made the modifications you’re talking about might be able to offer some good tips on how they accomplished what they did. I haven’t tried putting the corner holders in myself, but I imagine it would be a lot like the step where you add the back elastic — just add it to the corners instead.
Can anyone help Madi out with some advice?
Hi about my comment above, i just wanted the corner idea if that would better keep the kindle in place. does it stay pretty well with just the pocket?
Madi, we have been quite happy with the pocket
I love love love this!! I made one and it was a little tricky because I used a directional print fabric and had trouble figuring out where to place the embroidery on my first one. But I did it and it’s great! You can see my recommendations on using directional prints for this project and suggestions on where to place the embroidery here: http://amityoriginals.blogspot.com/2011/01/kindle-case.html
Thanks for sharing those tips with our readers, Amity. Love your heart print fabric!
I am so happy I found this, a friend asked me to make her one, found this page and ran with it!
A huge thank you to Melodie Huddleston, PERFECT measurements!
I must admit these pics are my 2nd attempt but the first only had the problem of a droopy pocket….
I must also admit that I do not own the nook, DVD is very similar in size tho…
THIS IS A NOOK COVER, NOT KINDLE!!
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i116/jesskittykat1980/100_0794.jpg
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i116/jesskittykat1980/100_0790.jpg
I was thinking about using plastic canvas instead of chip board?
kat, that sounds like it would work fine as long as it’s sturdy!
Great – plan on padding it too with some fusible interfacing. Let you know how it turns out.
snowed in today and this looks like the best project!
I LOVE IT! I got a Kindle3 for Christmas. We had a 2 hr snow delay day right after. I was able to pick a fabric cut and construct your design and still get to work on time. Thanks for the design and instructions. This would have been so much harder if I first had to design it and figure out the measurements. I solved the problem of the elastic with the fabric. I simply stretched the elastic and sewed the fabric on. Works great. Thanks again
Great job turning that snow delay into a productive time, Dubbia Bee!
Big thanks to reader Janie, who pointed us to strapworks.com, an online source for colored and patterned elastic. Check them out if you’re looking for decorative elastic for your Kindle cover!
Hi Chica and Jo, I just wanted to let you know i just finished making a cover for the nook. I made it for my grandmother and she loves it!! It turned out really well, even though i had to sew the whole thing by hand because the sewing machine decided to quit on me today! I also have a tip for those making a cover for the nook: just make the pocket the same size as the kindle 3 pocket, because in my experience the formula was a bit off for the pocket. But thanks so much! I had a lot of fun doing it and i am sure to make plenty more!!
Thanks so much for the tip, Madi. Congrats on sewing the cover by hand… what a feat!
thank you so much for this. my dad is buying my mum a kindle and now i know just what to make her for mother’s day!!
I just purchased a 9″ pandigital reader… any idea what the dimensions would be for this reader?
Pam, if you measure your e-reader’s width, height, and thickness, you can use those measurements in our formula above to determine how big to cut your fabric and cardboard.
Just thought I would pass on a tip that helped me. I had a very snug fit on the chipboard pieces which is a good thing but it was very hard to get the fabric to slide on. I decided to try some scotch tape on the edges and it made all the difference in the world. My case turned out very nice – I might make a couple of modifications in the next one – adding the elastic strap or something at the top for stability being the main thing. Great directions – thanks for sharing them!
Lora, what a great tip! Thanks for sharing it with us. We would love to see your finished cover if you would like to share it with us on our Flikr group.
I have managed to make a kindle cover which stands up! I’ve also added a pocket for the cable and a screen cloth. You can see the photos here http://www.flickr.com/photos/picperfic/sets/72157625851843239/
I have blogged about the one I made with the bendy cover here http://picperfic.wordpress.com/2011/01/26/kindle-cover-and-lemon-meringue-cake/
I love this design, thank you so much for sharing it. I have added my photos to the Flickr pool too
Great job, Marianne. I like the pocket, too!
I just finished my first cover and it is ingenious! I didn’t have any hard chipboard to use so I cut off the backs of a spiral notebook- which is not strong enough to stand up as an easel. It functions great as a cover though and I will just have to make another.
Thank you for this tutorial! It’s great!
I had a little problems with this because of my poor English and inhabitance in Europe (I don’t think in inches but in centimeters). But all ends well.
My “military” cover for Kindle3 with your tutorial on the screen you can see in this post: http://potyczkizmaszyna.blogspot.com/2011/02/pokrowiec-na-kindlea.html
Thank you once again and regards from Poland!
Your cover came out great, Emilia. Thanks for sharing the photo!
LOVE IT!! I got a Nook for Valentine’s day and couldn’t find a cover I liked. This was my second attempt, the first one wasn’t snug enough. I converted my calculations to cm so the measurments were more exact and it came out perfect! Thank you for the great directions.
I posted pictures in the flickr group.
Great job, ant2c. Thanks for sharing your photos in our Flickr group!
Thanks so much for this pattern! My mum and I made this back in January when I first got my Kindle, and it worked perfectly. Instead of sewing a pocket, I decided to use one of those very thin elastic headbands with the silicon strip on the inside (the ones I specifically used were Scunci No-slip Grip flat headwraps) to hold my Kindle in its case, with one strap horizontal across the top and two small diagonal ones for the bottom two corners.
I can’t find my camera cord to post all my pictures, but in the meantime here’s a very low-quality image (taken with my webcam, ugh) of the front, just to give you an idea of the bands and their placement:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v494/forevagreenearth/Image14.jpg
I’ll try to get better pictures up once I find that stupid cord.
Maria, what a great cover! The Scunci headbands are great for this.
Yay!!! I just finished my Kindle 3 cover!!! Thank you for your wonderful instructions..and there was enough material left at the top that I was able to fold it down, insert my #5 board and sew (by machine) for a finished edge.
Thank you for the instructions
I didn’t use a meter or a ruler, I just outlined my kindle on a cardboard as I wanted a narrow and tight cover so all the mess with measures can be avoided safely 
I used a sewing machine for the first time in my life and the result is not bad at all
I shared the pictures of my cover in your Flickr group.
Best wishes,
Ana
Ana, I admire your “go for it” spirit! Congratulations on stepping into the sewing world, and thanks so much for sharing your photos with us.
I’ve made two of these and really like the design. Thanks for the tutorial. My original cover is starting to look a little tired. Any suggestions for something I could use on the inside that would be washable?
Now I am off to buy your book for my Kindle, Chica!
Trisha, try coating your fabric in fabric Mod Podge before cutting it to sew. This gives it a coating that is still flexible but offers some protection. Take a look at this project post: http://www.chicaandjo.com/2011/02/24/disney-trading-pin-display/
Thank you so much! I just finished my cover and it was so easy and very well explained. I’m a sewing novice – I had to do extra credit in Home Ec just to earn a very low A. I especially appreciate the slip stitch sewing video since I had no idea what that was. Mine is not entirely picture perfect, but it’s functional and pretty and I’m very proud of my $3 cover!
Congratulations, Susan. I give you an A+ for having the guts to try a sewing project without a lot of experience!
I made a cover for the Kindle I got for my birthday last month. I am really pleased with it. I didn’t use strong enough board so I am going to make another one.
I have the board & I was going to cut up a neoprene laptop sleeve but do you think neoprene will be too thick?
Anne, neoprene should work in theory, but the thickness might mean you’ll have to cut the pieces a little big so that there’s still room for the board to fit inside after you’ve flipped the sewn pieces inside out. I suggest you cut big, fit it, and then go smaller if you need to. Let us know how it goes!
Hey guys,
I wanted to add a zip to the bottom of the pouch to allow the Kindle to be charged whilst I read it in its case. I’ll try and add some of my Flickr photos to your group. Here’s my ammendment to your above instructions.
http://thankyousam.tumblr.com/post/4294231254/custom-kindle-3-case-with-zipped-pouch
It probably doubles the number of steps, but I think the end result is pretty good
DaveO, what a great modification to this design! I love the zipper, and thanks for sharing your tutorial
Now I have to get busy with SwagBucks so I can get that Kindle I’ve been wanting so badly…LOL
Fantastic! Made one for my Kindle 3 this afternoon http://maytheweed.blogspot.com/2011/04/whoosh-and-there-was-kindle-cover.html
For the elastic I found there was a wider range of colours in fold-over elastic, which I then folded in half and secured with a decorative zig-zag stitch. It looks quite effective and FOE usually has the choice of a shiny side and a matt side.
Great job, Maytheweed. Thanks for sharing your photo and for the tip about the fold-over elastic!
Thank you! :0) I am making a surprise one for my friend as a gift so am just hoping the sizing is OK for her kindle
Thank you, Chica and Jo, for the awesome tutorial. I made one for my husband out of my old jeans – I thought the denim would look manly
. The little pocket at the bottom is a bit wonky but he really likes it and the fact that you can stand it up makes it far superior to other covers, imo. He said he thought it could be improved a bit with a hole in the bottom for the cord to go through. After I gave him a death stare I realised he might be on to something. Still, thank you very much, he really uses it.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/23436212@N07/5661543333/
Mary, that denim cover looks great! Thanks for sharing the photo with everyone. We’ve had quite a few readers modify this design to include a hole in the bottom for the cord, so your husband is in good company
Hi! I’m 13 and I made this for my mom and she loves it! Thx for the awesome tutorial!!!
Wow, Colette, you are such an awesome daughter! I wish my sewing skills were up to par to make this. I need to keep practicing to be as good as you and Chica.
Just made my second one for my iPad. This time I made it so iPad sits horizontally and when I want, it also sits vertically. I added a piece of cardboard inside the little pocket before sewing up the sides. Makes it a little tricky to turn inside out, but gives a nice straight sturdy pocket to sit in. I also made a storage pocket on the back side for cleaning cloth, ear buds, car charger, photo adapter, etc. My fabric is faux leather. This pattern is fabulous. Thanks for coming up with it and sharing so freely. Love all the other ideas.
Judy, I would love to see a picture because I have been thinking of making a cover for my iPAd.
This is the link to my pictures of my old and new cover. I so totally love your instructions. Thanks again.
http://www5.snapfish.com/snapfish/thumbnailshare/AlbumID=6460061008/a=78855620_78855620/otsc=SHR/otsi=SALBlink/COBRAND_NAME=snapfish/
Thank you so much for posting this! It’s perfect even for people with very little experience at this kind of projects…
I had to sew it all by hand (no sewing machine!), so the pocket and one of the elastics might ended up a wee bit wonky… I used a veeeery thin piece of plywood for the backing, and batting on the inside to make it cushiony. Now my new Kindle3 has a great home!
Pics: http://yfrog.com/h2t1j6j http://yfrog.com/gzdmr5j and http://yfrog.com/h8jvfmxj
Great job, dfotw! So glad you found the tutorial easy for a beginner sewer
Oh, this was a sweet project! I had everything on hand, and the instructions were very clear. I made 2 since last night when I found your site….
The first one was fine, but I found the base was slipping too much as I read in bed, as the cat walked over me, etc. I decided I wanted a way to stabilize that a bit. Other people had different strategies and I’d try those in the future, but what I did was add a smidge of velcro to the pocket base area (the hook side) and then on the flap I put the soft side. It looks like this:
http://bit.ly/jvvjVq
The other thing I did is in beta testing at my house–I used the clear plastic pocket stuff from the junked binder to make a pocket over the fabric one. So there’s 2 pockets, really. The fabric one will be fine for just reading and paging. But for games I need access to the keys. And this lets me access the keys. But I don’t know how durable it’s going to be.
I wish I had read about the second elastic earlier–that’s a good idea. But I think for now I can just make a circular one and use that as a second stabilizer.
Anyway: this was a fun and easy project, with all stuff I had on hand. Thanks so much for this. Feel free to take the photo if you want it, quality isn’t great but you can see my plastic pocket and velcro location.
Mary, thanks so much for sharing your experience with this tutorial. I think you’re the first to add the Velcro — clever idea! Isn’t it awesome when you’re inspired to create something and you already have everything on hand?
hey I’m not a sewing person can you put up links for your authorized dealers of this? I want to buy one!
Great idea, Trixie! I will contact our current authorized sellers and get their permission to list their info on our site. Stay tuned!
I’m confused about the size. I cut board and fabric for #3 but you say take the 5 3/4 inch board and measure against the fabric. This is in the very first step. Which piece for #3 size is this? This is confusing.
Lesley, I’m sorry for the confusion. My original instructions were for the Kindle 1, and all the cardboard pieces for that are 5 3/4″ wide. If you’re making a Kindle 3 or another device, your sizes are different, so I can see how that would be confusing! In reality, all of your cardboard pieces should be the same width, so you can use any one of them you want. I’ve modified the instructions to indicate that. Hope that helps!
Hi Chica,
I’m still not getting something. You mentioned the instructions are modified for the kindle 3G but I don’t see anything different. When you say the cardboard pieces should be the same are you saying that each piece is the same size and what size is that? I already cut the fabric based on what you stated and I hate to waste it as it’s special fabric for my daughter. I’m sorry I’ m having so much trouble with this as it seems others have made it up quickly and with no problems. Thanks.
Lesley, I’m sorry you’re having trouble. The basic steps of the tutorial are the same for every type of e-reader, but the sizes of the fabric and chipboard are different depending on which device you have. For each part of the tutorial where there are measurements, we have a table showing what the measurements would be for the Kindle 1, 2, and 3. (We also have a formula at the bottom that you can use for any device). Since you have a Kindle 3, you should use the measurements in the Kindle 3 column, which means… two pieces of fabric that are 6″ x 23″ and one that’s 6 3/8″ x 5 3/4″… and your five pieces of chipboard should measure
(#1) 7 5/8″ x 5 1/2″
(#2) 3/8″ x 5 1/2″
(#3) 7 3/4″ x 5 1/2″
(#4) 3/8″ x 5 1/2″
(#5) 4″ x 5 1/2″
In the step where I say to use one of the pieces of cardboard as a measurement for the fabric, I say that you can use any of the pieces because they should all be the same WIDTH. In your case, as you can see above, all your pieces should be 5 1/2″ wide.
Hope that helps!
I loved your directions! I am a beginner at sewing but my kindle cover was perfect, thanks to you! I am now inspired to make an iPad cover. Will this pattern work equally well for an iPad?
So glad you liked this tutorial, Catherine! We have not yet tried this with an iPad, but it theory it should work. If you try one, please let us know how it goes
I am so glad I found your tutorial for this — it’s very well written and the cover turned out perfectly! I got a Kindle for my husband for Father’s Day, and wanted to give him something *personalized* to go with it. Now I think I really need one for my Kindle!
Yay, Denise! That’s a great gift idea, and the cover makes it personal. You should definitely go make one for yourself now
I did go ahead and make one for me — I’m loving this! Is it okay if I post a link to your home page and also to this tutorial on my blog?! I zipped through the 2nd one in less than 45 minutes. It’s just perfect! Thanks again!
That’s awesome Denise! We would love for you to link to us and share this idea with your friends. Thanks!
Loved your Kindle ebook cover pattern! After my friends saw the one I made, they wanted one for theirs too. Thanks!!
Thank you so much; I adore this pattern !
I made one today; it only took a few hours. I used buttons instead of the elastic.
Pictures here, http://www.flickr.com/photos/62468565@N06/sets/72157627013240065/, if you want to see.
Aissi, I love the buttons! Thanks for sharing your photos with us
Hey there!
well, this is the third kindle case i have make. hopefully this one will hold up. the other ones i made were my own design, and either were not the right size, or not durable.
i posted my pics on your flickr group as nctmoore.
thank you for this post! i will share this with many people.
also, i showed my finished product to a friend and she liked it so much she suggested i make her a cover for her daughter’s Christmas present to go with her present from them!
thank you again.
Thanks for sharing those pics, Tomi! Everyone else can take a look at our Flickr group for user projects to see what you created. We’re glad you like this project enough to keep making covers
For my birthday this year, I received a Kindle. A short time later I gifted myself a new sewing machine. This cover was the first project I made with my new machine! The tutorial was easy to follow, and I love the result. Thank you so much for this great pattern.
Yay, Naomi! Sounds like a perfect pairing of gifts to create something fun and useful
Hey Chica,
Awsome post. Will try to make one of these.
I’m thinking on making one that fits the lighted cover, just so I can make it freestanding, of course I’ll have to use the formula measurements.
I just got the new Nook Simple Touch which doesn’t have a keyboard but a full touch screen so I will have to use either elastic or corner fabric pieces on mine. I have a couple perfect fabrics to make them in. I am a quilter and I make alot of purses/bags that I alter the sizes so I am not worried about figuring out the correct measurements. Hopefully I will be able to get to one this weekend. I didn’t want to spend the money on a cover knowing that I can make one and when I saw this pattern, I thought it is perfect because it can stand up.
Holly, we’d love to see how your case comes out!
I was just about to buy a similar working case and then thought to google for ideas. And now look at this fantastic idea! Can’t wait to get going on mine. Thanks, this is brilliant!
I saw you kindle cover and am anxious to make one
I made a different carrying case for my Kindle some time ago. Between the outer fabric and the lining, I used a heavy, rubbery shelf and drawer liner (that’s kind of bumpy and can be found at Walmart, Lowes, etc.) It’s easy to sew through and makes a really good cushion to protect the Kindle from bumps and being dropped.
Great idea, Lin. Thanks for sharing!
I want to make this lovely cover to my husband’s Kindle.Can anyone give me the measurement in cm please? I think he has Kindle 3. Thank you!
Lim, there are several nice conversion tools online that will help you convert the measurements in this tutorial from inches to cm. Try doing an Google search for “convert inches to cm” and you’ll get plenty of hits
Thank you! You know you are onto a great idea when after 2 years you are still getting such great comments.
Love my kindle (no more flipping pages) and love my new cover, no need to hold it, just enjoy reading!
Thanks, MamaJJ. This has certainly been one of our most popular projects!
I’m sure you’re head is swelled to it’s capacity with praise for your awesome tutorial here but I can’t help heap on more for you. I was just getting ready to make up my own plan for my Kindle but decided to google instead and see if anyone already had one (no use re-inventing the wheel right? lol) So, you are the bomb! Thanks so much for putting your brain to the grind stone so I don’t have to…hee hee.
Tiffany, we never tire of hearing from our readers! So glad we were able to save you some money and time, and thanks so much for saying hi. We hope you check out more of our site… we’ve got lots of great tutorials!
I want to make one for one that iv just ordered that hasnt arived yet, i cant figure out what mine is ( 1,2 or 3) but its the kindle keyboard wifi 6″ so its newer ? which should i use, cause it says that the full dimentions are 7.5″ x 4.8″
829829, you should be able to plug the device dimensions into the formula and go from there.
This is for poster number 255. If you ordered the kindle keyboard, you have a kindle 3. Kindles 1 and 2 aren’t sold anymore and with the 4 new kindles just announced, they changed the name of the kindle 3 to kindle keyboard.
so cool, I’m getting a kindle for christmas and wanted to make a cover, now I can. also I was thinking for a masculin look you could use a leather or faux leather material.
Thank you! I just ordered a kindle for my mom & I know she needs this, so I will be making this.
I love you! I’ve been trying to design my own Nook cover and have had no luck. This simple and easy design will allow me to make several for gifts as well! Thank you!
I just made one for my Kindle Touch which has not arrived yet, and am already super pleased. This was a quick and easy approach to creating a unique Kindle cover. Thank you so much!
That’s wonderful, Shital. Hope you enjoy your new Kindle!
I’m getting a nook color for Christmas and I want tom ake this case..can anyone give me the dimensions?? Thanks!
Keisha, according to the NOOK Color specs, the dimensions are: Height: 8.1 inches, Width: 5.0 inches, Depth: 0.48 inches
Oh yes I love this and it’s a better alternative that buying one for almost $30! I want to make one for my nook color too! Chica, what sizes would the pieces be? I’m not good at math LOL
Hayden, you’ll need to plug the Nook measurements into the formula to determine the sizes. I think there are a couple of folks who have done this already and shared their measurements in the comments above, too, so have a look!
Wait I’m confused…what size do we cut the fabric and chipboard becuase I see different sizes…?
Oops sorry I got it now! Thanks for the idea I LOVEE this!
I looked at the other posts but they were all for the original nook not the nook color. I really need help with the measurements because I’m so confused!
Keisha, I took the measurements I gave you earlier for the NOOK Color and plugged them into the formula in the post and came up with the following numbers. Keep in mind that I have not tried this out, though, so I can’t guarantee that they’ll work! Hope this helps you get started.
Cardboard #1 – 8″ x 5.5″
Cardboard #2 – 1″ x 5.5″
Cardboard #3 – 8.25″ x 5.5″
Cardboard #4 – 1″ x 5.5″
Cardboard #5 – 4″ x 5.5″
Two pieces of fabric – 6″ x 25″
One piece of fabric – 6.5″ x 5″
If anyone tries these measurements with a NOOK Color, please let us know how it comes out!
Ok Thank you soo much! I’m going to try this and post pics tomorrow!
Will you have the measurements for the new kindle fire available soon? That would be awesome!! Thanks!
Vonda, according to the Kindle Fire specs on Amazon, the device measures 7.5″ x 4.7″ x 0.45″ You should be able to plug those into our formula!
Thanks so much for the great tutorial! I just made one for my Android Tablet using your formula and I love it. I blogged about it here (http://carolinafair.blogspot.com/2011/11/tablet-cover-for-me.html#more) if anyone wants to see it made in delicious Amy Butler Lark
.
Your case came out great, Caroline. Thanks for sharing!
Has anyone tried this on a nook?
June, we’ve had quite a few readers make this case for a NOOK with great success. Check the comments above for some helpful tips!
I just made a cover for my Kindle Touch. I rounded up to the nearest 1/4″ on my measurements. I perhaps should have gone to the 1/8″. The pocket was too deep, so I rolled the top down and stitched it in place. I also added an elastic at the top (hand stitched on after the cover was made)to keep the Kindle from falling out. http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d168/laurenrae2005/KindleCover-tweaked.jpg
Looks great, Lauren! Thanks for sharing the photo with us. I actually like the rolled-and-stitched pocket — it looks kinda neat.
I’m really excited to make this for my dad’s kindle for christmas…..cut all my fabric and board and was ready to get going….(He has a kindle 3 and I followed ALL the measurements) but I have a problem! the very first step with the fabric, I go to fold the corners down and my fabric does not look like yours in the pic. For example, it looks like there is about two inches of fabric in between the two folded down corners in the picture. mine when folded goes down to an inch. Should I be adding an inch to the smallest piece somewhere? should it be 7 3/8 instead of 6 3/8??!! please help i’ve already cut this piece TWICE and I am running out of fabric AND TIME.
Hi Kim. The pictures in this tutorial are for a Kindle 1, which is quite a bit thicker than the Kindle 3. Therefore, the pocket is a lot deeper for my cover, to accommodate the thicker device. Your measurements are probably right if you used the formula. Give it a shot and don’t worry about matching the picture exactly. Good luck!
ah I see….thank you so much for replying!!! I am new to this sewing thing and that was really freaking me out! I will try that tonight and see how it works out.
ugh. don’t know how I managed to do it, but I wound up with my fabric inside out with my pocket on the inside. my elastic is on the outside. maybe this one is just too hard for me. is there a video of this somewhere? don’t understand how I’ve messed this up so badly. I’ve made three quilts but I can’t do this. ugh.
Kim, I’m sorry to hear you’re having such a hard time with this. Unfortunately we don’t have a video available. I try really hard in the tutorials to describe when the fabric should be “right sides together” or otherwise… maybe you just got a step confused somewhere along the way?
not sure…..going to show it to my friend who has been sewing for years and maybe she can help me. i’ll be sure to let you know if I figure out what the heck I did!!!!
ok!!! (you must be so sick of me by now lol) I figured out what I did wrong….basically it came down to sewing the pocket onto the wrong long strip and then it just went downhill from there….pulled all the seams and tried again and i’m VERY happy to report that I have made my dad’s christmas present!!! thank you so much for the tutorial and thank you for trying to help me! I’ll post a pic of my triumph tomorrow!!!
Kim, I’m so glad you stuck with it until you had success. Your dad will love that you made the gift yourself! Thanks for letting us know and I can’t wait to see the pic.
I also would like to know if anyone has done a cover for a Kindle Fire, as the screen is also bigger and the pocket may cover it. Has anyone tried to use elastic to hold the Kindle instead of a pocket?
I am a beginner, only made curtains before but would love to make a case for a Christmas gift. Does everyone think I’ll be able to follow this? I am artsy but just got a new sewing machine and am just getting into sewing. Any tips?
Stephanie, I hope you get the courage to try this out, because I think you’ll be able to do it if you follow the directions carefully. Perhaps try with some old scrap material so that if you don’t like the results, you won’t feel like you wasted anything? Then if it comes out great, you can start over (and re-use the cardboard) with prettier fabric. Let us know how it goes!
Hi, Do you have measurements for a Kindle Fire? I don’t have one here to go by. It will be for a friend and I need to send it to them.
Thanks it looks great!
Chris, according to the Kindle Fire specs on Amazon, the device measures 7.5″ x 4.7″ x 0.45″ You should be able to plug those into our formula!
Thanks!
Hey I was wondering if there is a video tutorial on making this Kindle cover?
Sorry, Tina, but we don’t have any videos of this project at this time.
Thank you so much! I made this for my hubby’s birthday gift, a Kindle Touch, in some manly flannel
My pocket had to be shallow to see the entire screen, and turned out too loose… so out came the hot glue gun to tighten things up a bit. I wonder if one could skip pieces 2 and 4 since this e*reader is so thing? Hopefully I can figure out how to put a pic up for you. Thanks again!
*thin*
I love this. I made it for my mom for Christmas since Kindle 2 covers are so hard to find right now (that aren’t $50 anyway). I plan on making her another as well as 2 for myself! Thank you SO SO SO much for the pattern!
I have a kindle fire nd I was wondering what measurements.I should. Use
Kayla, according to the Kindle Fire specs on Amazon, the device measures 7.5″ x 4.7″ x 0.45″ You should be able to plug those into our formula!
I just got the kindle fire. So I’m going to have to play a bit since there is very little room on the edges of my kindle 1/2 inch on three sides and 3/4 on the bottom. But your formula looks like just the ticket so I don’t have to completely design it myself.
By the way Chica’s size for the fire are right on target, I measured mine. Though 4.7 is a bit hard to measure with standard quilting rulers so 4.75 should work with ease.
What did you do about charging and turning the device on while in the case?
Vickie, you’re right that the newer e-readers provide an extra challenge with the pocket because they don’t have a big keyboard that you can let get covered up. Take a look back through the amazing comments our readers have left here for some ideas on how they handled the big screen (some used straps in corners) as well as the charging (some left a hole in the bottom of the pocket). Enjoy!
Thanks so much for the info. I can’t wait to get started. Now which fabric will I use?
By the way I found this neat site for 1/4 colored elastic. Lots of colors to choose from. http://www.bitsybands.com/Colored-Elastic-1/4%22-Skinny-Elastic/c13_5/index.html
Vickie, what a great source for colored elastic! Thanks so much for sharing that with us.
It was “Kindles for all” this Christmas and I made 3 of them after finding your pattern – one for me, one for my hubby, and one for my son. Now my brother wants one too, he hasn’t gotten his Kindle yet but he wants to be sure he gets the cover! Excellent pattern, and instructions!! Thanks so much for making it available!
You’re welcome, Leslie. Glad we could help make your family’s Kindle Christmas a little brighter
Ok , hmm.. lol … I have a friend who has a Kindle Fire .. I see from previous posts that I should be able to plug the information into the formula .. I’m cool with that
I am wondering if anyone has actually made one .. I have no CLUE what Kindles are like in person .. I’ve never looked at one in a store or anything , I’m hoping beyond hope the formula works good because I’m making it for a friend of mine and sending it to her , which means I won’t be able to ‘test it’ to see if it fits. Argh. LOL
I just finished one for Kindle Fire – looks Great!! Formula worked fine except for the short pieces (2&4) – they were too long. .5 in worked better. Also folded & sewed the pocket edge just a tad (like someone suggested) which worked well. Next time I might put a small buttonhole @ the bottom of the pocket for the power cord… hmmmm. Anyway, I Love it!! Fantastic tutorial!!
Also instead of handsewing the edge I just rolled it over & sewed through the fabric & chipboard. Practiced 1st to be sure the machine could handle it & it worked great.
Thanks for the Kindle Fire tips, Andrea. So glad you enjoyed this tutorial!
I just made a cover for my Kindle Touch, and it’s great! The pattern is incredibly easy to follow. It was also really easy to modify. Instead of a bottom pocket, I used two squares folded into triangles in the corners, as I didn’t want to cover the screen. It also leaves the bottom open so I can charge it while it’s in the case. I’m 14 and this was my first project using a sewing machine, so it isn’t the neatest work, but it still came out well considering. The only problem I had is that pieces 2&4 are a little too large when you use the formula. Aside from that, it seems to be working well!
Congratulations on your first project with a sewing machine, Michi! I hope you continue to explore sewing and create even more wonderful projects. If you’re looking for some tips, you might want to check out our series of Sewing 101 videos.
Just made one of these for my new Kindle (not sure of the name; it just said Kindle on Amazon but it’s one of the newer ones; the very thin one with no keyboard).
Owing to its thinness (0.87mm)I decided the narrow end pieces of cardboard (#2 and #4) were superfluous so I missed them out and just stitched in between pieces #1 and #3. I had to make the pocket pretty narrow because of the lack of keyboard but it still holds the kindle in place well. I also decided to add a screen-sized piece of felt to the inside where it sits against the screen, for added anti-scratch protection.
For encouragement; I have no sewing machine and did this all by hand in backstitch, and I barely ever sew fabric. But it worked out beautifully; it wasn’t too difficult or time-consuming to do by hand and I am really pleased with it!
I’d love to send you some pictures – how can I do that?
Thanks so much for the tips, Lou! We’d love to see photos of your case. If you have a Flickr account, you can upload them to our Flickr group for reader photos. If not, just email them to us at chicaandjo@chicaandjo.com and we’ll post them for ya.
Thanks Chica and Jo! My mom LOVES LOVES LOVES her Kindle cover. She took it all over Christmas day insisting on showing it off to anyone she met
Thanks for helping me give a gift to someone who has it all.
That’s awesome, Caryn!
LOVE this. Im new to sewing but will be trying this today. Thanks so much!!! Wish me luck!
Can someone please post the measurements for the Fire according to a ruler? I am so bad at math and I cannot figure out what .45 and 4.7 is on a ruler. I don’t have a Fire or I would just measure it myself! LOL
Thanks for the great tutorial!
I think you may need to revisit the formula for cardboard pieces #2 and 4 however. Adding 1/2″ is way too much. Maybe adding 1/8″. Other than that, sewing for Fire worked well. I think on the next one though, in addition to shortening the depth, I’m going to try the triangles like Michi, but in all 4 corners.
Thanks for the tips about pieces #2 and #4, Lou and Christie. I’ve amended my formula above with a special note. It’s so hard to keep up with all the new devices out there these days!
Sharon, you have quite a bit of leeway in the calculations and can round them. A .45 measurement is just a half an inch, and 4.7 is 4 and 3/4 inches.
Can someone please just put up the exact measurements
Of the kindle fire? I know there’s a formula but
I’m lost on how to do it! I’m so bad at math.
Also if there’s anyone out there that could post
Pictures of them making the kindle fire
It would be great! I’m such a visual person
So directions can be sometimes tricky for
Me to follow.
If someone justs puts out the exact measurements
thanks everyone
Of the cardboard and fabric I’d love you
For forever!
I haven’t read all of the other commets so im not sure if this has been said yet, but i have tried so many times to make the case and i just cant do it. So i think you should sell cases because i would pay alot of money to have one of those beautiful cases and i also dont have the time and effort to make one myself so please just think about it.
Ruby, check out the end of the tutorial above, where you’ll find a list of Authorized Sellers who are selling cases made with this design. You can work with one of them to purchase a case!
This looks lovely and would be great for my kindle. The only downside of it is that you would have to take the kindle out of the case to use the keyboared
Okay, folks. Enough of you have asked about the Kindle Fire that I’ve just updated the tutorial above with measurements for the Fire. Hope that helps, and please let us know how it goes!
Found you on Pinterest by chance! I was working on a new cover for my Kindle 3G (I have the kind that opens like book now) but I like this so much I may make a few…for me, 2 of my sisters, my husband, my mother-in-law, you get the point :0)
This looks so easy, thank you!!
I made this case for my mom and she loves it! Now my sister wants me to make one for her iPad. I thought I could just use the formula to adjust the measurements for it, but she wants the kind with the elastic straps. Do you have a formula to adjust that model? Thanks!
Alicia, hang tight a bit, because we’re working on a similar iPad case tutorial. Hopefully I’ll have something up next week for ya!
I love the tutorial. I had to customize it to fit my Kindle Touch. It works great and looks great. I tea dyed my elastic to match my fabric. I also took the flap of fabric hanging over the end and folded it up twice then sewed along the edge. This gives the stand a nice lip to rest in. I sent pictures to your email address.
Thanks for sharing your photo, Beth. I love your dyed elastic and the lip was a very clever idea. We posted your photo in our Flickr group and you can see it here.
My husband has a Droid X phone that he uses to watch a lot of online shows, mobile netflix, and reads online books. Any way that I could accomodate this to fit for a Droid? He would love something like this! He struggles to get it to get his phone in the right position when he reads/watches in bed!
CMayo, a phone is quite small compared to the Kindle, but theoretically the custom formula we provided above should work for any size device. Look for the “custom Kindle case formula” link near the top of the tutorial, and let us know how it goes!
Alicia and everyone else who is looking for an iPad cover — we’ve just published a dedicated iPad tutorial with specific measurements and the elastic corner straps! Check out our iPad cover tutorial for complete instructions.
I just used your tutorial to make a cover for a Kindle 4, and thought I’d share the measurements that worked for me in case anyone else is looking for help.
Cardboard (5in wide)
Piece 1: 6 5/8in
Piece 2: 1/4in
Piece 3: 6 3/4in
Piece 4: 3/8in
Piece 5: 3 1/4in
Cloth (5 1/2in wide)
Piece 1: 7 1/8in
Piece 2: 16in
Piece 3: 23in
I ended up cutting off maybe 3in at the end before slip-stitching, but I thought it was better safe than sorry.
I used the 3in elastic pieces in the corner, but they seemed a little bit loose, since the 4 is so thin. I wouldn’t want them shorter because they’d be too close to the corners, but if I could make an edit, I’d have sewn them more tightly to the fabric. 6in would probably be sufficient for the closure elastic, but again, better safe than sorry.
Thanks so much for sharing those measurements, Kat!
Just wondering if anyone has added some fusible fleece for a little extra padding?
Sara, a couple of our readers have adding padding in the form of batting, which they talked about in the comments above. If your padding is very thick, you may need to adjust your fabric size so that everything fits. Good luck!
My new kendle fire is awesome I got it last night and I’m going to make my own face its going to be cat on it
I am currently trying to figure out how to make this pattern landscape, vs portrait. I also would like to put my reader (nook color) in the middle with the flap to the right and the top cover to the left. My brain is fried after trying to figure it out most of the day today. LOL!
The cardboard #2 and #4 formula don’t seem to match the kindle’s cardboard dimension table. e.g. kindle fire’s thickness is 0.45″. According to the formula, the cardboard should be 0.95″ in length, but how come the table shows it as 5/8″?
PC, thanks for your question. The formula was written to accommodate as many devices as possible, so it is a bit generous on the size of pieces #2 and #4. However, after reader feedback (and testing myself), I realized that the Kindle Fire is so incredibly thin that a smaller measurement for those pieces worked better. So the 5/8″ you see in the table is correct.
do you by chance have the measurements to use when making a case for the Kindle touch? I would love to make one of these!
Sandra, I just took a look at the Kindle Touch measurements versus the Fire, and it’s almost the same, just a half inch shorter on its longest side. If you’re willing to have a little extra space in your case, you can use the Fire measurements above. If not, you can shave a half inch off all the length measurements above.
I just made one and it turned out great. I have a Kindle 3G and the measurements were perfect. I wrapped some craft foam around the chipboard and cut the fabric a bit bigger to hopefully add some impact resistance, so mine is a bit bulky, but it looks nice and I love it. Thank you!
I just made one of these in about 4 hours with some leftover double-sided fabric from the 80′s. Did a little applique on the front. Cut and hot-glued a piece of felt on the backboard to provide some cushioning. It’s fantastic!
Thank you! I just made one of these and posted photos of it to flickr and added it to your reader projects group. It’s fantastic! Thanks!
So glad you liked this project, Cassandra, and thanks for sharing your photo!
last night i made a cover for my nook tablet, the pattern was great and easy to follow.
i used form core to make the bords, its light and works great.
i love using it and love making it
janet
Nice idea to try foam core, Janet. I imagine you had to either cut it a little smaller than the specified measurements or make the fabric a little bigger in order for it to fit?
hi the foam core is 1/8 thick, so i used the same measurements. i also cut it with a rotoy cutter that was old, not one with a new blade. it worked just fine. now iam trying to make one for my iphone42. happy sewing everyone.
I just made this for my husband’s Kindle. I had to use the custom measurements, but it worked out great. I made it from some lightweight denim I had left from making a purse. I can’t wait for him to see it.
I love your tutorial but I have just one problem.. I am a watch and sew kinda learner and trying to read your tut is killing me, heh. Do you happen to have a video? I own the Dx and the gen 1 Kindles just by chance really. I have some simple idea using velcro if this makes sense to you.. I notice that the stand doesn’t stay together with any motion when you have it standing up open so… what if you put velcro the rough stuff in the bottom of the pouch part then put the matching on the end where it sits to stand AND also on the other inside so that when you fold it it holds it snug there also? Did that make any sense?
Sorry, Shailiekat, but we don’t have a video. If we did, we’d certainly share it with you!
Here are the covers I made for my nook tablet….Sorry for the background noise..plz lower ur volume
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z5zyE0fiNLI
The formula for a nook cover…
Board
1. 5 1/4in x 8 1/2in
2. 1/2in x 8 1/2in
3. 5 1/4in x 8 1/2in
4. 3/4in x 8 1/2in
5. 3 1/4in x 8 1/2in
Fabric
1. 18in x 9in
2. 12 3/4in x 9in
3. 5 3/4in x 9in
4. 4- 2 1/2in squares folded on bias for the holders
Thanks for sharing your results, Linda. I love that blue paisley fabric you used!
I made a phone sized one! Posted photos to the flicker group
Linda, I love it! It’s great to see that the formula works on any device
Thanks for sharing the pics. Folks, you can see Linda’s pics in our Flickr group here.
I really am want one that is just bi-fold, side by side, without a pocket…do you all have a tutorial for something like that? I know I want a hardcover, like you made, but it’s near impossible to find a pattern for that! Thanks.
Sorry, JustJayna, but we don’t have a tutorial for a cover like you’ve described. You could try adapting our iPad Cover (which is side-by-side) and leaving off pieces 4 and 5 and the back elastic. That would be close to what you want, I think.
Perfect! Thanks for the link!
Thanks so much for posting this tutorial! I found it very straightforward and easy to follow. Using stiff cardboard inside the fabric is a brilliant idea.
I put photos up on my blog, with a link to your tutorial…
http://baroquepurls.blogspot.co.nz/2012/06/cosy-kindle.html
Great job, Amy. Thanks for sharing your blog post with us!
Made this for my Nook and works perfectly… I’ll be making another as a gift, thanks for the easy instructions!
Just submitted two pictures of a Kindle cover I hand sewed for my husband. They are the pictures with the flannel cover. Hand sewing was a bit of a time-consuming task, but I didn’t want to get my sewing machine out, since I’m just not as proficient with it as I would like. I find hand-sewing relaxing, but not in the time frame I was given! We needed to have this cover done in time for a road trip tomorrow. Thank you so much for this beautiful pattern. I gave you credit when I posted the picture of my cover on Facebook.
Amanda, thanks so much for sharing your pictures in our Flickr group. I love how your cover came out, and admire your dedication to hand sewing it. Here are some directly links to your pictures (one and two) for those who want to see it.
We got my mom a Fire for Christmas and she’s been hinting to a stand type cover. I am no seamstress, but I am satisfied with how it turned out because it works.
Thank you for your easy to follow instructions.
You’re welcome, Kari. Glad your mom finally got her wish!
Thanks for the tutorial! I just made a quick-cheap-and-dirty version for my Sony Touch (PRS-600) with a few mods:
1) changed the orientation to “landscape”
2) made the “flap” cover the entire front, instead of only halfway
3) glued craft foam to the chipboard pieces for extra cushion
Check out the pictures here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/23046533@N02/sets/72157630591622952/
Now that I have the basic idea, I plan to make one with nicer fabric, and these additional modifications:
1) I found the elastic was too short, and will need to cut bigger pieces next time.
2) The cover is too large for my tastes. I plan to cut the next one’s pieces much closer to the actual e-reader’s measurements than the formula suggests.
3) I plan to split the back panel (the one facing the e-reader when the case is closed) to allow for a more extreme viewing angle.
4) I am batting around the idea of a snap closure, as opposed to the elastic.
Hi! I just made two of these cases for my boys and embroidered Angry Birds on them. My boys are completely happy with their cases and I’m happy that I found this pattern!! Thank you!
Becca, thanks for sharing those tips and photos!
Heather, that sounds so cute! We’d love to see a photo if you want to post one in our Flickr group for reader photos.
Will definitely try this on my Nook Simple Touch! Anybody know the exact measurements for the NST already? Thanks!
Made the original case for my old Kindle Keyboard with mods that sadly did not work well, mostly due to my inexperience working with clear vinyl. Oops! Any way, now that Santa is bringing Mommy a Nexus 7 for Christmas, I’ll have to try again using a mod of the iPad version. I want to see if I can incorporate a small magnet into the design since it has Smart Cover type magnets built into the display. If it works, I’ll post picks.
Got a kindle fire for Christmas, now I can make the perfect cover to keep it safe. Thank You!!
Got supplies, going to make 2. Wish me luck!
Thank you so much for the very detailed instructions how to make a cover for my kindle fire. I made one yesterday and am very pleased with how it turned out.
Great pattern! And thanks for posting the formula to make them for tablets other than the sizes you have posted. I just made one for my mom’s Kindle Paperweight for her birthday, and it was great to make one in coordinating fabrics to match the purse I made her for Christmas. I modified the largest piece of fabric by piecing together two different fabrics to create a stripe going down the middle (lengthwise) and it looks awesome!
So glad our formula worked for you, Kelly. It’s great that you were able to coordinate the case with the purse. We’d love to see how it came out if you want to post a pic to our Flickr group for reader photos!
Thx for sharing~ Happy new year!
I received my Kindle almost 2 years ago now and I made a case for it. Back then I couldn’t find anyting on the internet so I designed my own, did lots of sewing and ripping out but finally got it. I’ll try and find pics of it and show you what I did. Now we gave our 11 year old grandson a Kindle for Christmas and he wants me to make him a cover, I have got to try yours, looks so easy. I need to figure out what material and what embroidery design to use for him then I will be off and running. Thank you very much for sharing your directions, much appreciated.
Happy New Year!
My hubbie gave me the Kindle Fire HD 8.9 for Christmas. The covers for sale are so expensive that I wanted to make my own. Used the directions here and made a beautiful cover in a couple of hours. The hardest part was cutting the chipboard! I’ll make more, a different one for a different mood. I may also try placing velcro on it instead of the elastic to close it. Thanks for a great pattern!
I hadn’t made any covers for a while. Still using the last one I modified on here 2 years ago. I ended up making many from silk and flannel. I modified them in many ways, using elastic straps, corner pockets, etc, cutouts for the power switch on the kindle which is a must in my opinion. Otherwise you have to take it out every time you want to wake it up. My grandkids got tablets for xmas and I am now going to modify this pattern yet again for all 3 of us and make 3 more cases. I found corduroy and flannel works best with batting sewn into both strips. I also make casings for my elastic to pretty it up. I add pockets, etc, will post pics when done. Also, I do not use chipboard. I go to the library and get discarded books. I cut them up, they are very sturdy and it takes my husband and a very sharp utility knife to cut them.
thanks for this page and all the input,I have now made three kindle cases and it was such a breeze.thanks for sharing
I have a Nook color tablet I seen someone posted measurements for the cardboard but not fabric for a nook but the measurements don’t match mine I can’t do the math if anyone has made this for a (Nook color Tablet)can you post the measurments like 8inch or 8 1\2 inch I get confused with 8.2 or whatever. need both board and fabric with elestic measurements Please.
Well, I just made this tonight. Took me about 2 hours (I’m a slow study), but I got er dun. I just opened a Flickr account and tried posting my photos on your site, under LubbyGirl. I love this tutorial!! I’d like to post a link to this on my blog if that’s allowed, to show where I found the instructions to make this.
LubbyGirl, your case looks great! Thanks for sharing your picture in our Flickr group. You are more than welcome to link to our tutorial from your blog so that you can share your experience with others
Thank you! I don’t know if links are allowed here, but just in case, here is where I posted it:
http://remissionary.wordpress.com/2013/01/24/read-all-about-it/
Just made your case for my KINDLE FIRE HD. It’s a little small width size. So I made some adjustments. Had a fun time sewing it together,haven’t sewn in years. Thank you for the inspiration. Peace to you
Was so excited to find you on Pinterest! All 4 of my kids got android tablets for Christmas from Oma. I used your formula to make each of them a case for Valentines Day! And the best thing is it didn’t cost me a dime! Had the fabric and old binders here at home. They turned out great and the kids love them! I made 4 of them in just a couple of hours – the most time consuming part was cutting out all the cardboard pieces. Thank you so much for sharing!
Sounds like the perfect scenario, Shannon… a handmade gift from materials you already had, and your kids loved them. Awesome!
Howdy again…just had to say, my friend’s daughter (age 13) saw my Kindle cover and wanted it. I used the leftover lining fabric from when I made her a flop-top purse, so it matches her purse lining. Well, the long/short of it is, now I need to make myself another cover.
Do you think this would work with leather? I have one leg left from a pair of leather pants (yup, made purses from the rest of the pants) and thought I’d try making a cover from that. Have you done this in leather before?
LubbyGirl, leather would certainly look rich and lovely, but how easy it is to sew would depend on how thick the leather is. Really thick fabrics are harder to sew and turn inside out, and this project has some pretty tight measurements. If your leather is very thick, you might want to add a little extra to all the measurements to make sure you have room for the chipboard to fit inside after you’ve flipped it. Let us know how it goes!
Well, I opted for a black suede that I’d forgotten I had. I just put a couple of photos on your flickr page. I had to add something to that plain black suede though – so I cut out a heart from the lining material of a purse I just made today, and used a piece of lace edging around it. Sure helped! I’m lovin’ my Kindle cover! And my friend will love the zebra one (she’s getting it after church when they come over). Yay! I didn’t have to change the seam allowance for the suede after all. It worked great just like you have it here. I did have to be careful not to stretch the suede, though.
Good job, LubbyGirl! Isn’t it neat how a single design can be adapted in so many ways with fabrics and colors to suit anyone’s personality? Here’s a link to your photo in our Flickr group for everyone to see.
I suggest this insertion to your impressive Kindle Cover project (elastic band version), to go in the paragraph that describes placement of the elastic wrap-band (and apologize for this not being ‘general feedback’):
“If you are making a case using our Kindle Case Formula, you may have to adjust the placement of the elastic wrap-band, since 2.5 inches away from the line of sewing may be too far for some devices. How do you determine where to place this elastic for your device? Let’s see: when your case is finished, and the chipboards are enclosed in fabric, Chipboard #5 will lap over the bottom half of Chipboard #1. Basically, the elastic wrap-band must lie far enough from the line of stitching (the one you just made) that Chipboard #5 will overlap this elastic wrap-band by 1″. For example, on one of my devices, the elastic needed to be placed 1.5″ from the line of sewing.
Or, you could leave the wrap band site at 2.5″ from the line of sewing, AND cut Chipboard #5 and your two larger fabric pieces correspondingly longer.”
Love your website.
Does anyone know the dimensions for the Kindle Fire HD? The bigger one. 8.5 I believe.
Pam, according to Amazon, the Kindle Fire HD 8.9″ measures 9.4″ x 6.4″ x 0.35″ and the Kindle Fire HD 7″ measures 7.6″ x 5.4″ x 0.4″
Thanks so much for the feedback, Beth! We love when readers share their tips
What do you cut chipboard with?
Bezatesa, thinner chipboard can be cut with a paper trimmer, but for thicker stuff, I use a craft knife against a metal ruler.
Wow, Thanks so much for this, I will be making one for my Kindle Fire this weekend, this is awesome. Best part is I do Papercrafting and already have some chip board.